Outdoor Adventure

Prepare for an exciting leadership role with a career in the outdoors.
  • Enjoy a more personalized learning environment with our small classes
  • Benefit from supportive and experienced faculty who are active in their industry
  • Gain the latest and best industry-specific knowledge and skills to be career-ready upon graduation

Program Availability and Schedule

Availability

Open

Closed

Waitlisted

Start Term

Availability

International
Availability

Competitive?

Fall 2025

No

Schedule

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Program Summary

Credential

Ontario College Diploma (2 Years)

Program Delivery

View delivery information

Program Code

6780X01FPM

Area of Interest

Recreation and Wellness

School

Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley

Campus

Pembroke

Work Integrated Learning

Field Work Placement

The two-year Outdoor Adventure Ontario College Diploma program prepares you for working in the outdoors, leading adventure trips and teaching inclusive outdoor skills. Half of your time in the program is spent outdoors, in a variety of locations and adventure operations, including our partner training location at Wilderness Tours. The other half takes place at Algonquin College`s Waterfront Campus.

Complete technical training in various land-based activities from mountain biking and rock climbing to skiing, snowshoeing, and ice climbing. You also build guiding ability in water-based activities, such as:...(read more)

Overview

Prepare for an exciting leadership role with a career in the outdoors.

The two-year Outdoor Adventure Ontario College Diploma program prepares you for working in the outdoors, leading adventure trips and teaching inclusive outdoor skills. Half of your time in the program is spent outdoors, in a variety of locations and adventure operations, including our partner training location at Wilderness Tours. The other half takes place at Algonquin College`s Waterfront Campus.

Complete technical training in various land-based activities from mountain biking and rock climbing to skiing, snowshoeing, and ice climbing. You also build guiding ability in water-based activities, such as:

  • whitewater rafting
  • kayaking
  • flatwater canoeing and canoe tripping

This program is built around an adventure tourism and small business management curriculum, with classroom courses in:

  • risk management
  • business management
  • ecotourism
  • human resources
  • computer applications

Participate in one expedition per term, including a graduating project that you plan and execute with a group of classmates.

Benefit from the opportunity to earn up to 20 industry certifications, such as:

  • Wilderness First Responder - 80 hours First Aid
  • Swift Water Rescue Technician and Operator
  • Canoe Instructor
  • Whitewater Kayak Instructor
  • Leave-no-trace Trainer
  • Cycle Tour Guide
  • Occupational Health and Safety and WHMIS
  • Downhill ski, Snowboard or Nordic Ski Instructor

Graduates may find employment opportunities such as:

  • wilderness trip leaders
  • kayak, climbing or mountain bike guides
  • ski patrol members
  • canoe or snowboard instructors

SUCCESS FACTORS

This program is well-suited for students who:

  • Enjoy a hands-on approach to learning outdoor adventure skills and the outdoor adventure tourism industry.
  • Enjoy being outside and being challenged physically and mentally.
  • Are committed to guiding and teaching others in a variety of outdoor environments and adventure activities.

Courses

Programs at Algonquin College are delivered using a variety of instruction modes. Courses may be offered in the classroom or lab, entirely online, or in a hybrid mode which combines classroom sessions with virtual learning activities. Upon registration, each full-time student is provided an Algonquin email account which is used to communicate important information about program or course events.
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Careers & Pathways

Careers

Graduates may find employment across Canada and around the world. The combination of in-the-field training, technical skills certification, leadership and risk management, and industry and business study create multiple career paths and graduates that are in demand. Entry-level positions, such as wilderness trip leaders, kayak guides, ski patrol, climbing or snowboard instructors are seasonal in nature and are combined to create year-round work and travel opportunities.

Parallel industry positions may include outdoor education, logistics planning and support. With relevant field experience, graduate`s training may allow them to move to senior and guide manager positions, such as ski school director, terrain park manager or program coordinator. Several graduates have purchased an existing business or started their own adventure company, ranging from whitewater rafting to international adventure travel. The Outdoor Adventure program has built a reputation of high-quality graduates.

Pathways

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Please note: There may be more pathways available for this program than are listed here. Please use our Pathways search tool to see every option.

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

  1. Assess risk and exposure, manage liability, and create systems consistent with leading risk management practices.
  2. Lead others leveraging interpersonal ability, group management tools, and sound decision making and judgement.
  3. Consistently demonstrate professional communication strategies, including written, spoken and digital applications.
  4. Instruct outdoor technical skills.
  5. Initiate an effective and methodical response to emergency and rescue scenarios.
  6. Build technical skills and acquire industry recognized certifications.
  7. Incorporate environmental awareness and sustainability into outdoor and business practices.
  8. Identify and develop business and management strategies to capitalize on opportunities in the adventure industry.
  9. Plan and manage adventure-based trips, events and programs.
  10. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Tuition & Fees

Get an idea of how much each semester will cost with our Tuition and Fee Estimator.

2024/2025 Academic Year

Tuition and related ancillary fees for this program can be viewed by using the Tuition and Fees Estimator tool at www.algonquincollege.com/fee-estimator.

Further information on fees can be found by visiting the Registrar`s Office website at www.algonquincollege.com/ro.

Fees are subject to change.

Additional program related expenses include:

  1. Clothing and Equipment: Students need appropriate clothing and equipment to participate in outdoor activities throughout the four seasons of the year. Students likely already own many of these items, and the program provides course specific equipment. A complete list is available in the Applicant`s Handbook, available on the program website.
  2. Program Readiness Camp: $327.37 (including tax); Books, maps and manuals: approximately $400 per term.
  3. Expeditions: Travel, food and equipment are supplied for expeditions. Students are required to obtain a passport and travel insurance (on a per trip basis).
  4. Advanced Expedition (Level 04): If the class chooses a final expedition destination that exceeds the allotted budget, additional costs for transportation, accommodation, documentation, etc., may be incurred by each student.
  5. Elective Courses that Include International Trips: All expenses are the responsibility of the student for those who select elective courses that include international trips. Approximate trip costs are provided in advance of elective course selection.

Admissions Requirements

All applicants must satisfy both College Eligibility and Program Eligibility requirements.

College Eligibility

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent. Applicants with an OSSD showing senior English and/or Mathematics courses at the Basic Level, or with Workplace or Open courses, will be tested to determine their eligibility for admission; OR
  • Academic and Career Entrance (ACE) certificate; OR
  • General Educational Development (GED) certificate; OR
  • Mature Student status (19 years of age or older and without a high school diploma at the start of the program). Eligibility may be determined by academic achievement testing for which a fee will be charged.

Program Eligibility

  • English, Grade 12 (ENG4C or equivalent).
  • Mathematics, Grade 11 (MBF3C or equivalent).
  • PART 1:
    • Applicants with international transcripts must provide proof of the subject-specific requirements noted above and may be required to provide proof of language proficiency. Domestic applicants with international transcripts must be evaluated through the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) or World Education Services (WES).
    • IELTS-International English Language Testing Service (Academic) Overall band of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each band; OR TOEFL-Internet-based (iBT) Overall 80, with a minimum of 20 in each component: Reading 20; Listening 20; Speaking 20; Writing 20; OR Duolingo English Test (DET) Overall 110, minimum of 110 in Literacy and no score below 95.
  • PART II:
    • Prior to commencement of the program, accepted applicants must:
      • Participate in a mandatory Program Readiness Camp orientation weekend (several dates available, details in Applicant`s Handbook available on program website).
      • Submission of Applicant Personal Information, Consent and Health form (available on program website), prior to attending mandatory Program Readiness Camp orientation weekend.
      • Provide proof of current Standard First Aid Certification.
      • Sign and submit an Outdoor Adventure Program Assumption of Risk and Release form (available at program website).
      • Those under the age of 18 must submit Parental Consent documentation (available on program website).
  • Applicants who have met Part I of the Eligibility and Selection process will be accepted into the program. If the number of applicants exceeds the number of positions available, applicants will be selected based on their English (ENG4C or equivalent) and Math (MAP4C or equivalent) grades.
  • Those applicants successfully accepted in the program must plan to attend a mandatory Program Readiness Camp orientation weekend (Part III). Several dates are available over the spring and summer (details can be found in the Applicant`s Handbook available on the program website). Two weeks prior to your attendance at the orientation camp, a Personal Information, Consent and Health form, along with an Outdoor Adventure Program Assumption of Risk and Release form must be completed and submitted to the program coordinator.
  • Prior to the first day of class, the student must provide proof of current Standard First Aid and a signed release form. All of these details are outlined in the Applicant`s Handbook available on the program website.
  • The Assumption of Risk and Release form is available on the program website.

Application Information

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
Program Code 6780X01FPM

Applications to full-time day programs must be submitted with official transcripts showing completion of the academic admission requirements through:

ontariocolleges.ca
60 Corporate Court
Guelph, Ontario N1G 5J3
1-888-892-2228

Students currently enrolled in an Ontario secondary school should notify their Guidance Office prior to their online application at www.ontariocolleges.ca.

Applications for Fall Term and Winter Term received by February 1 will be given equal consideration. Applications received after February 1 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as long as places are available.

International applicants please visit this link for application process information: https://algonquincollege.force.com/myACint/.

For further information on the admissions process, contact:

Registrar`s Office
Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley
1 College Way
Pembroke, ON K8A0C8
Local: 613-735-4700
Toll-free 1-800-565-4723
TTY:1-866-620-3845
Fax: 613-735-8800
https://algonquincollege.com/pembroke

Additional Information

Program Resources

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) RequirementseTextbooksArchived Program Information Academic CalendarVirtual TourProgram Overview PDF

This program is offered at the Pembroke Waterfront Campus, which is surrounded by the fantastic natural resources of the beautiful and rugged Ottawa Valley. Sitting on the shores of the mighty Ottawa River, the Campus is in close proximity to world-renowned Algonquin Park, alpine ski hills and its program partner, Wilderness Tours. The Wilderness Tours resort is located just 30 minutes from the Pembroke Campus.

The Outdoor Adventure Program is a physically demanding program. Students should be able to efficiently and comfortably swim 200m, be able to carry a 22kg/50 lbs backpack over long distances, paddle or bike for several hours at a time, and spend all day and overnight outdoors in all weather from plus 20C to minus 20C. Refer to the Applicant`s Handbook found at our program webpage for complete participation requirements.

At least three weekends per term are scheduled for expeditions and/or practical skills courses. Students must attend these weekend programs. A schedule is distributed on orientation day.

First-year students choose between flatwater or whitewater elective streams. Second-year students choose between a range of technical specialty and certification courses. The electives offered are subject to minimum and maximum numbers, weather and logistical requirements. Not all electives are of International travel electives are offered during the program and provide unique learning opportunities at international adventure destinations. These courses are elective and students incur additional travel-related fees if they select these courses. For those intending to pursue international adventure guiding as a career path, these electives provide value-added learning opportunities and resume building experiences.

Tuition fees include a number of significant industry certifications. Students may be able to earn industry certifications through the program at a significantly lower cost than if attained independently. Incorporating many certifications directly into the curriculum ensures graduates are qualified for employment.

NOTE: Certifications are subject to change and availability as all are regulated by separate, external national bodies.

Statement of Responsibility, Safety and Liability:
In order to learn the skills necessary to become an effective leader in the outdoor adventure tourism industry, students must perform beyond the limits of a mere participant and assume a greater degree of responsibility and risk.

Course activities regularly take place in remote and rugged locations. Activities, including overnight camping and daily classes, are scheduled regardless of rain, snow and cold. Remote locations may mean delay in emergency communication and time to medical treatment in the case of injury. Within any given day, there is supervised and un-supervised activity and time.

There is an inherent element of risk which is beyond human control. Only those risks that contribute to career related skills, knowledge, and experience are acceptable, as dictated by industry standards, certification, licenses and specific course outlines. This is termed risk appropriate training. Risks that fall outside of the scope of industry practice are deemed inappropriate for technical training programs at Algonquin College. Although effort is made to minimize exposure to these risks, we can ultimately assume no responsibility for your safety or loss of personal equipment.

A signed liability release is required of all students before commencement of the program. An additional liability release may be required for courses delivered through subcontractors or host agencies. Students are encouraged to read these carefully and fully understand the forms` legal implications before signing. A parent/guardian release is required for minors (under 18 years of age).

Contact

Jeff Jackson

Program Coordinator

jacksoj@algonquincollege.com

613-735-4700, ext. 2704

View Bio

Jeff Jackson

Program Coordinator

jacksoj@algonquincollege.com

613-735-4700, ext. 2704

Course Areas:
Risk Management, Leadership, Adventure Industry Analysis, Business Planning, Advanced Expedition, Whitewater Expedition

Adventure Industry Experience:

  • 25 years of expedition guiding and instruction, ranging from the Yukon to Austria to the Southwest United States
  • Senior instructor with Outward Bound and the National Outdoor Leadership School
  • Manager of high profile kayak schools, expedition programs, and Nordic ski resorts; trail builder and trail manager
  • Risk management consultant working with Canadian and international organizations
  • Present and publish extensively on adventure-based risk management issues

Education:

  • Ph.D., Sprott School of Business; research in the area of safety motivation and organizational culture
  • M.Ed., Charles Sturt University (2005); thesis research in using case studies to build judgment
  • Bachelor of Business Administration (Hon.) Wilfrid Laurier University (1993)

Professional Qualifications / Industry Certification:

  • Co-author, Managing Risk, Systems Planning Of Outdoor Adventure Programs (2010)
  • Whitewater kayak instructor trainer (CanoeKayak Canada); river rescue instructor

Other Interests:

Trail tourism and community development

Listen as Jeff Jackson speaks on CBC Ottawa about the Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, and the potential dangers the wind and inclement weather may have >>

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